First Blood Bank for northeastern people inaugurated in Delhi

New Delhi [India], Sept.21 (ANI): An exclusive blood bank dedicated to the people of northeast was inaugurated at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) recently.

An initiative of 'Helping hands,' an NGO, the blood bank will cater to the patients from the northeast.

Inspector General of Police Robin Hibu, nodal officer for northeast people, along with parents of Nirbhaya-- a 23-year-old medical student who was brutally gang raped in December, 2012 - were also present to support the initiative.

Stressing on the need for a blood bank dedicated to the people North East (NE), Hibu said: "There are more than 10, 000 people from north eastern states residing in New Delhi and NCR, whenever they suffer from medical conditions or needed blood, they run from pillar to post with no one turning for their help. They somehow arrange the blood but at the end of the day it's a major issue. There is an NGO called "helping hand" started by all the senior officers, lawyers, so we all decided to establish a blood bank with the help of AIIMS hospital, so that people from North east won't die just because of the lack of blood. Other hospitals are taking too much money but AIIMS has exempted processing and preservation fees. We are donating the blood and providing it to the people of north east free of cost and this blood bank will be open 24/7 so needy can come and use the blood bank."

When asked whether other people beside the NE community will benefit from the blood bank, Hibu said: "The people coming from the north eastern states usually live alone without their families, it's a vulnerable group, so yes the NE people will be their first priority but if they have blood in an ample amount then it will definitely be provided to others also."

Meanwhile, Nirbhaya's father Badri Nath Singh said the bank will prove to be a boon for the people of northeast.

"People who come to Delhi from different corners of our country; generally most people come alone- the girls and the boys. And when you are alone sometimes accidents happen. Away from your hometown eventually it becomes very difficult to find urgent medication or for instance if you need blood and because of lack of blood people die on the spot. So this is a very good initiative for the people of north east," said Singh.

People from the northeast region also came forward to donate blood at the newLY-inaugurated blood bank.

"When someone is away from home and they need blood in emergency cases like accidents, illness etc, then a blood bank is very helpful. It's a wonderful initiative and I will come again to donate my blood," said Jambay Gyaltsen Chetan, a blood donor, who originally hails from Arunachal Pradesh.

He also said that the bank would be a blessing for a large number of people from the north east region residing in the capital. (ANI)